When people think of Kansas they think of a boring old vast land of flat ground and wheat fields. When you actually sit back and look Kansas is full of amazingly beautiful places that you never knew
existed. One of those places is Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park. Little Jerusalem was established by the Kansas state legislator in 2018. The park is 332 acres with 220 acres of badlands.
Little Jerusalem showcases a mile long stretch of 100 foot tall spires and cliffs. The cliffs are made of Niobrara Chalk, a layer of rock deposited about 85 million years ago. Niobrara Chalk was formed by sediment that settled at the bottom of an inland ocean called the Western Interior Seaway which covered most of central North America roughly 140 to 70 million years ago. The sediment became compressed over time, and the seaway floor was lifted by the same tectonic shifting that formed the Rocky Mountains, lizards, snakes, toads and a variety of insects. Great Plains wild buckwheat grows only in the chalk prairies of western Kansas and the single largest population of this type of plant is found at Little Jerusalem.
Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park is a unique habitat for a variety of wildlife and plants. Ferruginous hawks nest in the park. If you have good eyes you will occasionally spot small mammals.
There are not many trails in the park but the ones that are there are very beautiful. One of the trails is the Little Jerusalem Badlands Overlook Trail. The trail is only .4 miles long and the view is amazing. The longest trail in the park is the Life On Rocks Trail. The trail is 2.4 miles long with a great view over the badlands, and if you are lucky you will get to see tons of wildlife.
The Little Jerusalem Badlands is one of the most beautiful parks in Kansas. With plenty of amazing places to view the Badlands and the land the park is an amazing choice for your next vacation. The park is home to many animals and insects, so there will be plenty of wildlife to see. There are hiking trails
throughout the park, so if you are a hiker who wants to see a beautiful view this may be a great option for you. Next time you think of boring old Kansas just remember littler Jerusalem is still here.
